Izuku Midoriya 

Katsuki called -- as he promised he would. Each night we would spend at least half an hour talking about random things. Sometimes our conversations were serious while other times they were trivial and focused more on things like movies or favorite foods. 

It seemed too mundane in-a-way. Like we were somehow past late-night phone calls and hushed 'I miss yous'. We were, in-a-way, yet every time the phone rang I would jump, my heart would pound a little harder, and my breath would hitch in my throat the moment his voice took over my speakers. 

Two weeks was nothing compared to four years. However, this time almost seemed just as long of an absence. Something had changed.

I began thinking harder about my future now more than ever. I had a stable career now and stable health. I no longer was letting life pass me by. Katsuki had taken steps towards a better future. He applied for college; he got accepted! Katsuki was making an effort to be a better man -- a better mate.

That alone was what brought me here. Standing on my mother's doorstep after too long of being away. I wondered many times why I never confided in her. It never made sense to me why I shut her out or why I still didn't call -- or why she stopped calling me.

Swallowing my guilt,  I waited for her to open the door. After I knocked time seemed to slow, painfully. I listened for the padding of her feet, inhaled her scent that swarmed my childhood home, and waited. Surely she knew it was me by now.

I could hear the unstable beating of her heart. Her breath was rough, nervous, and I heard a soft thump from the other side of the door. My own breath hitched in my throat. I waited.

"Mom," I mumbled, placing my hand on the wooden door. I heard the sharp inhale of her breath before the familiar click of the locks followed. I moved back an inch as the door was pried open and my mother's face appeared. 

She had gotten older.

Her once richly colored hair had streaks of grey. Her face held a few more age lines around her eyes but was still beautiful. I let out a breath that I didn't realize I was holding and my shoulders sagged.

"Izuku," Mom breathed softly while a gentle smile pulled at her lips. My heart squeezed. I had to reach out and brace my hand on the side of the house to keep myself on my feet. I was a horrible son.

I had neglected my own mother for so long and yet when I barge in unannounced, she welcomes me with a smile as if I had never left. A mother's love. Something I would never understand. I fought to keep myself together and looked back up at her face.

"Hi, mom," I whispered and was ushered into the house quickly. It happened fast and naturally and before I knew it I was seated on the sofa with a cut of hot peppermint tea being placed in my hands. 

A wave of emotions crashed down over me and it took several minutes before I could find the words that I needed to speak. Mom was quiet and patient the entire time, as usual. She waited until I was calm, then urged me to drink my tea. 

Afterward, I had tried to speak again but the words just wouldn't come out. Again, my mother soothed me and glanced at the clock.

"It's late, dear. How about you sleep here tonight, and in the morning we can talk," She offered and although I wanted to decline, a yawn ratted me out. I knew I was outvoted. A mother's vote always counted as two normal person's vote.

She ushered me to my childhood room and hugged me tightly before giving me some privacy. I found myself in bed and staring at the ceiling for a while. I wasn't sure how long I lied there. But I must have fallen asleep because I woke up to the morning's rays illuminating my room along with the smell of bacon from downstairs. 

I found myself seated at the table with a plate of food, coffee, and my mother's company. It wasn't rushed or awkward. I was surprised and thankful that I had such a good relationship with my mother. It made moments like this less uncomfortable. 

"I'm sorry," Was the first word to taint the quiet atmosphere. I needed to say them. I needed to apologize. Mother blinked and then smiled gently, her face softening with understanding. She always understood.

"It's okay, love," She reached over and grabbed my hand. My fingers laced with hers instantly and I sighed.

"It's not okay, mom. I am really sorry for everything I put you through," I pressed and inhaled sharply when she squeezed my hand to cut me off.

"Son, life has shown you nothing but pain and suffering. You handled the situation to the best of your ability. No Omega -- no person -- should have been made to endure what you have at such a young age. Please, don't worry yourself over apologies that I don't need from you. I am your mother, Izuku. I know -- I know," She cooed and placed her small palm on the side of my face.

I hadn't realized I was crying until she brushed away the wetness under my eyes with a sad smile. I made some sort of pained sound and shook my head. "I shut you out for so long, mama. I shut you out and stopped calling. I'm so sorry for doing that!" I cried while she soothed me with comforting hands and soft words.

"Izuku, I know and I am telling you that I don't need your apology. I was just waiting for you to contact me again on your time. I knew you would come around but you needed time and space. I don't know what you were dealing with while we were apart, but I assume it was something that needed to be done, yes?"

"Yes," I whispered with my head still hung.

"Honey," Mom cooed at me and lifted my head. "You're okay -- You seem okay now, and that is all that matters to me. I couldn't bear to lose my son. I will always be here for you," Her words warmed my heart and I pulled her into a firm embrace.

"I love you, mama," I spoke into her hair while she brushed her thin fingers through mine. I was lucky -- beyond lucky -- to have such a wonderful mother. "I won't disappear ever again. I swear. I am better now. I'm finally better," I breathed and felt my eyes burn once more as my mother's thin body began to shake with silent sobs. I held her tighter and let the quiet heal the wounds of my absence in her life. 

A mother's love. Something I would never understand. The tears spilled down my cheeks but they didn't hurt anymore. They cleansed and brought together something that was torn apart too soon. No other words were needed. We held each other and cried until our bodies grew tired of crying, and then we moved to the living room where we spent the next few hours talking, catching up, and bringing together bits of our strained relationship.

***

Mom did not like what I had to say about Katsuki. He was back in my life as a different man than the one we both had known. I could tell she was angry even though she didn't voice her anger. Her brows pulled together in confusion and then frustration before relaxing into a scowl.

"I don't like it, Izuku," She sighed heavily and I frowned.

"I know you don't trust him. I -- I don't know if I trust him either. But he has changed, mother. You should see him," I trailed off with a soft smile before biting my lip. "He's different than before. He isn't rushing things or pressuring me for anything. We are getting to know each other and letting things heal. We are talking to each other for once in our lives without things blowing up. Mom, I -- I was ready to break out bond," I winced at the thought. "I had him there and was going to break it. He was going to let me break it," I hurried to explain.

"Izuku,"

"No, mom please listen. He was going to let me break our bond because he wanted me to be happy. Does that sound like something the old Katsuki would do? He told me that if I was happy without him, then he would let it happen with no fight." I panted with clenched fists. 

"Izuku,"

"I was happy though! I was finally so very happy without him. But something was different. At that moment -- at that moment I couldn't let him go because -- because he was right. I wasn't happy with him not in my life. He spent two days at my house with another male and never once started a fight. He backed down to another Alpha just to make sure I wasn't mad or upset. Katsuki was different and I know! I know it's too soon to really know if he has changed, but I feel it," I placed my hand over my heart and blinked, a few tears dripping down my cheeks. "I feel our bond like it never was before. It's so light and warm now."

"Izuku,"

"I don't feel so bad anymore, mom. Katsuki and I have so much to talk about but we are starting fresh, moving forward, at my pace. He is letting me move things how I want them to go. I was happy without him, but I know I will always be happier if he is in my life --"

"Darling -- Izuku, please listen to me," My mother finally raised her voice and placed her hand on my shaking fists. I held my breath and blew it out thinly, trying to calm myself.

"Y - Yes," I sighed and closed my eyes waiting for the harsh words to fall down on me.

"Son, you are an adult. I can't tell you who to love --

"I don't l --"

"Please, Izuku," She held up her hand, cutting me off. I snapped my mouth shut. "I can't tell you who to love or who to date. You are not a child anymore. But I am still your mother and will always look out for you to the best of my ability," She continued and pulled my hands back into her cool palms. "Izuku, dear -- I do not like this because I saw how badly it hurt you in the past. That boy has brought you nothing but pain and suffering for years. I don't trust him with your heart -- not so soon. However, this is not my call. If you think he has changed, then I will wait to see it myself. I will not support him as your mate until I am sure he will not hurt you the way he has before. He is still young, immature, and I don't want to see you on your deathbed again. I can't --" She shook her head and closed her eyes. 

"Mama," I frowned and pulled her hands to my lips. I kissed the back of her hands. "I am lucky to have you as a mother. Even when I am being an idiot you still love me and treat me kindly. Thank you for listening to me. Even though you don't trust Katsuki or want this for me, I am grateful that you are here for me. I may be making another stupid decision -- but for once -- I don't feel as if the world is ending. I feel like it has just begun,"